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| TPWD News Releases About State Parks and Destinations Dated 2012-06-20 |
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[ Note: This item is more than three years old. Please take the publication date into consideration for any date references. ]
[ Media Contact: Mike Cox, 512-389-8046, mike.cox@tpwd.texas.gov ]
June 20, 2012
Applications Sought for Local Park Grants
AUSTIN - Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is announcing a special call for local park grant applications under the Outdoor Recreation and Urban Outdoor Recreation grant programs before Aug. 1.
With the passage of the omnibus spending bill in December by the U.S. Congress, Texas has received $2,302,679 for its federal apportionment through the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Roughly half this amount -- $1,151,339 -- is available for grant review prior to Aug. 1. Of this amount, 40 percent is set aside for Urban Outdoor Recreation grants and 60 percent is set aside for Outdoor Recreation grants. Applications must be postmarked no later than Aug. 1.
For more information regarding this special call, go to http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/business/grants .
Due to limited funds and eligibility requirements, applications for all other Local Park Grant programs are not being accepted at this time. These include the Small Community, Indoor Recreation, Urban Indoor Recreation and Regional grant programs.
For questions regarding the application process, please contact:
Dana Lagarde
(512)389-8175
dana.lagarde@tpwd.texas.gov
or
Roxane Eley
(512)389-8109
Roxane.eley@tpwd.texas.gov
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[ Note: This item is more than three years old. Please take the publication date into consideration for any date references. ]
[ General Media Contact: Business Hours, 512-389-4406 ]
[ Additional Contacts: James Booker, (903) 670-2266 ]
June 20, 2012
Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center Gearing up for July 4 Fireworks
ATHENS, Texas--Preparations are under way for the annual Fourth of July fireworks show at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center (TFFC). The show will last approximately one-half hour and is one of the biggest in East Texas.
The fireworks show is directed and produced by Alpha-Lee Enterprises, Inc., of Liverpool, Texas. The show is a Keep Athens Beautiful event.
TFFC will be open for regular visitation from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free admission for the fireworks show will start at 4 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to fish in the stocked casting pond while waiting for the fireworks, which will begin at dark. No license is required to fish, and bait and tackle are furnished for free. Fishing ends approximately one-half hour before the fireworks begin.
Food and beverages will be available for purchase, and people are encouraged to bring picnics. KCKL (FM 95.9) will broadcast patriotic music during the show.
Pets, alcohol, tobacco products and private fireworks, including "snap caps" and sparklers, are not allowed.
The fireworks show is sponsored and paid for by the City of Athens, local businesses and individuals.
Contributors include: City of Athens; First State Bank; Kim Hodges; East Texas Radiological Consultants P.A., Harold Smitson, M.D.; Charlie and Cindy Akin; Athens Bank; Citizens State Bank; The Cain Foundation; Athens Steel Building Corporation; Lance and Kathryn Etcheverry; Carol and Pat Wallace; East Texas Medical Center Athens; Stephen and Karen Jones; Ellen Key; Lake Athens Property Owners Association; Athens Marina; David and Melinda Thomas; Michael and Nan Clough; Athens Bank/The First State Bank; Dallas Bank of Texas/Tome & Becky Abbott; Carol Barton; Robert W. Bushnell; Dalton Family Properties; Bill and Carmen Hunt; William Goodwin; Bryon and Tamara Lichtenberg; McCord Properties; Mamie Stafford; Sam and Karen Whitten; Charles Span; Melissa and Hillesheim; Thad and Lisa Hardin; Charles and Carletta Ramsey; Nell and Neal Velvin; Peggy and Bob Gould.
The event has become an area tradition, with many people dressing in red, white and blue in keeping with the holiday theme. Parking is available in the main TFFC parking lot and in an overflow parking area on Peninsula Point Road. Persons using the overflow parking area may enter through Gate C, which is across the street from the parking area.
For more information or directions, call (903) 676-2277.
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[ Note: This item is more than three years old. Please take the publication date into consideration for any date references. ]
[ General Media Contact: Business Hours, 512-389-4406 ]
[ Additional Contacts: Spencer Dumont, (325) 692-0921, sdumont@sbcglobal.net ]
June 20, 2012
Angler's Legacy Program Offers Anglers Chance to Share the Gift of Fishing
ATHENS--It is generally recognized that getting young people involved in the outdoors benefits them in many ways. Research shows that children who engage in outdoor activities are happier and do better in school. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) Inland Fisheries biologist Spencer Dumont of Abilene has some suggestions on how to make that happen.
"Many times over the years anglers have asked me what they can do to help make fishing better," Dumont said. "Anglers have helped by providing tournament results, assisting with habitat projects, going electrofishing with us, and a few other things. However, there is another way, one that may be more important than anything else an angler can do: Introduce someone to fishing who has never been fishing before."
The Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF) is an organization whose mission is to increase participation in recreational angling and boating and thereby increase public awareness and appreciation of the need to protect, conserve and restore this nation's aquatic natural resources.
"My favorite RBFF program is the Angler's Legacy Program," Dumont said. "The concept is simple: Give back what you have been given (pay forward the gift of fishing) by promising to introduce somebody to fishing."
The promise comes in the form of "taking the pledge" on the TAKE ME FISHING website, http://www.takemefishing.org/community/anglers-legacy/take-the-pledge.
As an Anglers' Legacy Ambassador (one who has taken the pledge), a person vows to share the love of fishing with at least one new person each year; to pass on traditional skills and earned knowledge; to pay forward the thrill of fishing and their love of the great outdoors and commitment to a healthy environment with friends, family, neighbors, colleagues or anyone; and to give back what someone once gave them--the gift of fishing.
TPWD's Inland Fisheries Division, in addition to providing the best possible fishing, strives to ensure the conservation of Texas' aquatic natural resources through the continuous recruitment of anglers, the most important aquatic natural resource stewards.
"The Angler's Legacy Program is a great opportunity for anglers to help support the future of fishing in Texas," Dumont said. "Everybody in our office took the pledge to make a difference. We encourage you to do the same."
Dumont encourages anyone interested in learning more about the Angler's Legacy Program, either as a potential Ambassador or as someone new to fishing, to contact the Abilene Inland Fisheries district office at (325) 692-0921 or visit them on Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/tpwdifabilene.
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